Gay Bashing still A-Ok w/ Repulicans and Christian Right

The House of Reps passed legislation to extend hate-crime protection to gender and sexuality (currently it only applies to race, religion, color or nationality). However, Bush is expected to veto it because he deems it “unnecessary and constitutionally questionable”. Where was this reasoning when he passed the Patriot Act?

Essentially, the bill is being opposed for 2 reasons:

1) it would afford certain groups a higher level of protection
2) it threatens the right to express opposition to homosexuality

Rep John A. Boehner (the minority leader) said “We’re going to put into place a federal law that says that not only will we punish you for the crime that you actually commit, the physical crime that you commit, but we’re also going to charge you with a crime if we think that you were thinking bad things about this person before you committed the crime.”

I think this reasoning is flawed. The GLBT community should be given protection under hate-crime legislation because a hate-crime is different from regular crime. If you are killed in a crime of passion by someone you know, you had the misfortune of being around someone unsound. If you are killed in a robbery, you had the misfortune of being involved in a random situation. If you are targeted and killed because you are gay, then it is for no other reason than EXISTING.

Hate crime legislation was originally necessitated to protect Blacks from being lynched for no other reason than pigmentation -- for existing. All violent crime is abhorrent, but prejudicial crime is especially abominable because it doesn't simply hurt those assaulted, but it also tears at the moral fiber of a society. Legislating protection against it sends a message to our society that prejudice manifested through violence cannot and will not be tolerated.

Not suprisingly, the Republicans were backed by the Christian Right, who are intent on portraying the bill as "misleading". James Dobson (of 'Focus on the Family'), continued his fierce protection of homophobia with the fallacious argument that the bill would serve “to muzzle people of faith who dare to express their moral and biblical concerns about homosexuality”.

Extending protection to GLBT people under Hate-Crime legislation does not in anyway threaten free speech. The bill would not prohibit a person from raising objections about another person's sexual orientation. It would prohibit a person from vicously beating a "fag" and then leaving him to die.

Canada only added protection for the GLBT community under hate-crimes law a few years ago, and it's disheartening that so many of our neighbours below are so intently focused on promoting oppression and hate under the guise of protection of the family structure or societal morals. Trying to dictate what a person can or cannot do in their own bedroom, or who they can marry is despicable enough, but to try and stop physical protection for a oft terrorized section of our society is truly disgusting.

The Canadian Al Gore

Cute article in the Washington Post about David Suzuki, who they call "the Canadian Al Gore".

Apparently Suzuki interviewed Gore in the 80's and was so impressed by his knowledge of climate-change issues that "He sent shivers up my back."

Gore told him "don't look for politicians like me. If you want to bring about change, you have to convince the public there is a problem. Show them there are solutions. Get them to care, and demand that something be done."

Below: Suzuki interviews Stephen Harper

Argh, Conservative Bullshit

Al Gore was in Toronto recently, educating the masses. He spoke out on Harper's new environmental plan, calling it a "complete and total fraud". Since last year, there's been a higher level of understanding in regards to what is Global warming and it's effects (largely thanks to Gore's documentary), and it's finally become a major issue for voters. Conveniently, Harper has (seemingly) done a 180 & introduced policies focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Gore points out that the plan is vague, failing to the detail specific regulations needed to combat the environmental crisis, and instead is "designed to mislead the Canadian people."

John Baird's response was "The fact is our plan is vastly tougher than any measures introduced by the administration of which the former vice-president was a member." This is the usual sidestepping the Tories are known for. ("Don't look at what we're actually doing, look at the wrong doings of Governments past").

The fact is that Gore is stepping up to the plate. He's admitted he didn't do nearly enough in his time in office to combat emmissions, but he has been the catalyst for "going green" becoming a must do in the past year. People are much more interested/aware/willing since Gore's movie came out. (Much respect to David Suzuki's work, of course). IMO, Canadians have a much higher Bullshit meter than Americans do, so I'm glad that Gore has brought attention to the Tories specious plan. If Lorne Mayencourt runs in Vancouver Centre in the next election, he's going to get Fryed.